Hyundai unveils plans for new headquarters

The new building is the largest investment the company has made in a U.S. office property to date.

by Caitlin AdamsPublished: January 04, 2012 10:05 AM

Hyundai Motor America yesterday revealed its plans for its new office headquarters building in Fountain Valley. The company will invest more than $150 million in the project, the largest amount that Hyundai Motor Co. has ever committed to a U.S. office building.

International architecture firm Gensler designed the new 419,000-square-foot building, and its design, construction and operations will aim for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification at the Gold level. The U.S. Green Building Council awards the LEED accreditations in accordance with a categorized point system. New or retrofitted structures are graded on categories that include site sustainability, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, and innovation and design process.

"This new national headquarters represents Hyundai's vision for the future and reflects the innovation and creativity that our brand has come to represent," said Hyundai Motor America CEO John Krafcik. "It also reflects our commitment to invest in and benefit the communities in which we operate around the world."

In its design, the building is constructed of six stories of translucent glass floors. The two-story entrance will lead to a open central courtyard. Hyundai vehicles will be displayed in a showroom on the side of the building that faces the 405 Freeway. In addition to the main building, a one-story 50,000-square-foot technical services center and an adjacent parking structure are included in the design.

The current office building, near the 405 Freeway, is in the process of demolition, and construction on the new building will commence in the spring. The project is expected to create more than 1,500 jobs and is estimated to take 19 months, with a slated completion date of fall 2013. Hyundai Motor America employees with offices at the headquarters building have moved to office space in Costa Mesa for the duration of the project.